OFFSHORE PROGRAM RULES

• Scales used to weigh entries must be I.G.F.A. or state certified.  Marinas, bait shops, fish markets, and grocery stores have them.

• Fish may be eligible only for the scoreboard period during which they are caught.

• All entries must be recorded and witnessed. An official C.F.O.A. Certification of Catch and Weight form is preferred. Facsimile accepted if all information is provided. LENGTH AND GIRTH, PLEASE.
• The Tournament will run from November 1st through October 31st with the awards ceremony being held at the December Meeting.

• Deadline for each entry is 30 days from date caught, except that all October entries (caught by October31) must be postmarked or submitted to the Weigh Master no later than midnight, November 15th The scoreboard will be removed from the webpage on September 1st.

• Species ties will be awarded to the Angler who first catches the prize fish. Point total ties will be broken on the final board by considering first the number of different species, and second the total number of places on the board. Total weight will be the last consideration.

• Weights are to be rounded down to the nearest ounce.

• Only fish caught in U.S. territorial waters, as demarked by the EEZ, aboard a boat leaving from, and returning to, a Florida port will be eligible.

• Entries will only be accepted from anglers who are club members in good standing at the time the fish is hooked.

• I.G.F.A. rules will apply to both tackle and method. No electric reels, no wire line, no one may touch the rod but the angler, etc., the exception being physically or mentally challenged anglers. They are exempt from any I.G.F.A. rules that would prohibit their participation, providing they set the hook and reel in the fish, and the catch provides a sporting challenge for the angler and tackle. If electric reels are required for the physically or mentally challenged anglers, wire line is not allowed and the line class of tackle used must not exceed 50 pounds.

• To be eligible, the Certification of Catch and Weight Form must be submitted by the angler who caught the fish.

• Released shall be considered caught when the leader is within grasp of the mate, or the swivel is to the end of the rod tip. Tagging is encouraged but not required.

• PEEWEE Division: To qualify for the CFOA PeeWee Division, the angler must be at least age 5 and not a Junior. Adults may assist PeeWee anglers by striking the fish/setting the hook, adjusting drags and supporting the rod while the fish is being fought by the angler who should operate the reel handle. PeeWee anglers may also use installed rod holders and electric reels. Year-end trophies (1-2-3) will be awarded for the heaviest offshore fish and the longest inshore species (six awards total). Boat points will not be awarded for PeeWee Division catches.

• JUNIOR Division: The angler must be age 11 and not more than age 15. Adults may assist Junior anglers by striking the fish/setting the hook, and supporting the rod while the fish is being fought. Junior anglers may also use installed rod holders, but may not use electric reels. Year-end trophies will be awarded for all species of offshore and inshore fish on the Scoreboard. Boat points will be awarded for Junior Division catches.

• SENIOR Division: The anglers must be age 55, or older. Senior anglers may be assisted by having someone take the rod from the holder, strike the fish/set the hook, and pass the rod to the Senior. Seniors may use installed rod holders during the course of fighting the fish. Seniors may use electric reels. Year-end trophies will be awarded for all species of offshore and inshore fish on the Scoreboard. Boat points will be awarded for qualifying Senior Division catches.

• The final decision regarding catch eligibility for all anglers belongs to the Weighmaster or the Tournament Director.

• As a recreational fishing club, the CFOA ethic is based on conservation and the honor system. CFOA does not condone the sale of fish caught by its members. Keep only what you will eat, within federal and state bag limits. Members who sell fish are not eligible to submit their catches to the Offshore and Inshore Scoreboards.

• Members fishing on the boats of other members, who are licensed charter boat captains, and have paid a charter fee, may submit weight slips for the fish they have caught, but points will not be awarded to the boat. However, if members are fishing on member boats, on a free or expense-sharing basis, both fish and boat are eligible for point awards.

 
 
  INSHORE PROGRAM RULES

• Only Length and Girth will be used to determine the size of a fish (weight is optional).

• Length and Girth must be determined with a verifiable and flexible measuring device which is at least 3 feet in length (e.g. cloth or plastic coated measuring tape)

• Length measurements must be taken in accordance with Local, State and Federal Recreational Fishing Regulations.

• Measurements are to be rounded to the nearest ¼ inch.

• Fish may be eligible only for the scoreboard period during which they are caught.

• All entries must be recorded and witnessed. An official C.F.O.A. Certification of Catch (Inshore Program) form is preferred. Facsimile accepted if all information is provided.

• Deadline for each entry is 30 days from date caught, except that all December entries (caught by December 31) must be postmarked or submitted to the Weighmaster no later than midnight, January 10th.

• Species ties will be awarded to the Angler who first catches the prize fish. Point total ties will be broken on the final board by considering first the number of different species, and second the total number of places on the board. Total length and girth measurements will be the last consideration.

• Only fish caught in U.S. territorial waters, as demarked by the EEZ, aboard a boat leaving from and returning to, a Florida port will be eligible.

• Entries will only be accepted from Anglers who are club members in good standing at the time the fish is hooked.

• I.G.F.A. rules will apply to both tackle and method. No electric reels, no wire line, no one may touch the rod but the angler, etc., the exception being physically or mentally challenged anglers. They are exempt from any I.G.F.A. rules that would prohibit their participation, providing they set the hook and reel in the fish, and the catch provides sporting challenge for the angler and tackle. If electric reels are required for the physically or mentally challenged anglers, wire line is not allowed and the line class of tackle used must not exceed 50 pounds.

• To be eligible, the Certification of Catch form must be submitted by the angler who caught the fish.

• Tarpon released shall be considered caught when the leader is within grasp of mate, or swivel is to the end of rod tip. Tagging is encouraged but not required.

• PEEWEE Division: To qualify for the CFOA PeeWee Division, the angler must be age 5 and not a Junior. Adults may assist PeeWee anglers by striking the fish/setting the hook, adjusting drags, supporting the rod while the fish is being fought by the angler who should operated the reel handle. PeeWee anglers may also use installed rod holders and electric reels. Year-end trophies (1-2-3) will be awarded for the heaviest offshore fish and the longest inshore species (six awards total). Boat points will not be awarded for PeeWee Division catches.

• JUNIOR Division: The angler must be age 11 and not more than age 15. Adults may assist Junior anglers by striking the fish/setting the hook, supporting the rod while the fish is being fought. Junior anglers may also use installed rod holders, but may not use electric reels. Year-end trophies will be awarded for all species of offshore and inshore fish on the Scoreboard. Boat points will be awarded for Junior Division catches.

• SENIOR Division: The anglers must be age 55, or older. Senior anglers may be assisted by having someone take the rod from the holder, strike the fish/set the hook, and pass the rod to the Senior. Senior may use installed rod holders during the course of fighting the fish. Seniors may use electric reels. Year-end trophies will be awarded for all species of offshore and inshore fish on the Scoreboard. Boat points will be awarded for qualifying Senior Division catches.

• The final decision regarding catch eligibility for all anglers belongs on the Weighmaster or the Tournament Director.
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